Pesticide poisoning in Costa Rica during 1996.
A retrospective study at the Poison Control Center of Costa Rica describes the pattern of pesticide poisoning that occurred during 1996. A total of 1274 pesticide exposures were reported. Occupational exposures were the most frequent (38.5%), followed by accidental situations (33.8%) and suicidal attempts (22.5%). The male to female ratio was 2.4:1. Eighty-percent of the patients had symptoms at the moment of the consult. Organophosphates, carbamates and bipyridyliums were the agents mostly involved (46%); clinical findings with these products were nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness and headache. Calls came mainly from hospitals and clinics (75%) followed by home calls (18.2%). Education of the users of pesticides and the community in general is essential to creating an awareness of the toxicity of these agents and to reduce morbidity cases.
Leveridge
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Centro Nacional De Control De Intoxicaciones, Hospital Nacional De Ninos, San Jose, Costa Rica.
D000061:Accidents, Home; D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002219:Carbamates; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000506:poisoning; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning*; D011039:Poison Control Centers; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted
D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007306:Insecticides; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010575:Pesticides